Coal ash cleanup advocates, legislators meet in Raleigh

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Advocates for the cleanup of coal ash were in Raleigh Wednesday to sit down with legislators during their "Town Hall" event.

The NC Conservation Network said about 100 people were coming from around the state for Coal Ash Lobby Day.

Republican Senator Phil Berger is one primary sponsor of Senate Bill 729, the Governor's Coal Ash Action Plan. The goal of the bill is to close loopholes and allow stricter state regulation of coal ash sites.

Gov. McCrory commended the Senate bill proposal.

Democratic Representative Pricey Harrison said the measure is "too Duke friendly" and filed a bill of her own last week.

She said House Bill 1226 is stronger because it involves "immediately ceasing putting anymore coal ash in existing ponds, closing all existing ponds, moving that coal ash away from the water on the utility property site, not trucked to other landfills, and having that cost be picked up by Duke shareholders."